Spray, Glory and Silverware

It had been a week of weather games and tactical headaches, where light-air specialists and heavy-weather bruisers both found their days to shine. And by the time the Island Sailing Club and Cowes Yacht Haven rolled out the prize-giving silverware, there were as many stories as there were trophies — each one carried home by a grinning crew and a slightly over-polished helmsman.

The Big One – Britannia Cup

For pure prestige, no trophy rivals the Britannia Cup. This year it went to Flying Jenny, Sandy Askew’s Cape 31 that punched far above her weight, outpacing a high-calibre IRC1 fleet of 23 boats to claim the silver. A week earlier, Askew had been seen pacing the dock with a weather eye on the Solent; by Thursday evening she was raising the Cup to the cheers of a Squadron lawn crowd that knew they’d seen a masterclass in pace and positioning.

Sportsboats and One-Design Thrills

The Sportsboat Class belonged to Tigger — helmed by designer-sailor Jo Richards, a man who could probably make a broomstick win in the right conditions. Four wins and a third-place finish proved too much for the rest of the fleet, cementing Tigger’s name in this year’s record book.

In the J/70s, Yeti Returns climbed steadily up the table as some of the big-name boats left after the Grand Slam series. Jack Davies and crew were there to pick up the pieces — and the trophies — proving that consistency wins more than just friends in this game.

The SB20s saw Breaking Bod seize the late-week Mini Slam with a performance as polished as their hull. They took their silver with the sort of quiet satisfaction that only comes when you know you’ve worked every shift to your advantage.

Classic Beauty, Classic Wins

The Dragon Class, a byword for elegance and tactical racing, was dominated by Bluebottle. Skipper Graham Bailey steered her past Fit Chick and Bertie, making it clear that age — in boats or sailors — is no barrier when you have teamwork and a plan.

The Seaview Mermaids, that uniquely Isle of Wight fleet with its candy-coloured sails, crowned Sheen as champion after four wins in the series. Their races, fought in tight coastal waters, are as much about local knowledge as they are about raw speed — and Sheen’s crew had both in spades.

Etchells and the Fine Margin

If you want close racing, the Etchells Class was the place to look. No Dramas, skippered by Andy Beadsworth, took the title by a single point — the kind of knife-edge margin that makes the difference between champagne and consolatory beer. Their battle down the final run of the last race had spectators craning from club balconies.

Cruiser Classes: Club and Performance

For many, Cowes Week is as much about taking part as it is about winning. But that didn’t stop the cruiser fleets from delivering some competitive fireworks of their own.

In Club Cruiser C, Susimi III (Michael and Susi Carrington) sailed a week of confident tactical calls. Meanwhile, Club Cruiser D went to High Spirit, helmed by Andy Maskell, whose crew were seen celebrating with matching shirts and even more matching smiles.

The Performance Cruiser A crown went to Assarain III (Chris Masterson), whose upwind legs were a lesson in clean starts and clear air. Performance Cruiser B saw Elidie (Neil and Annabel Miller) take the honours, their steady points score proof that avoiding disasters is as valuable as chasing bullets.

Rising Stars and Young Guns

Cowes Week has always been a proving ground for youth sailors, and this year the spotlight fell on Mary Rose Tudor. Crewed by an under-25 team with more nerve than grey hairs, they sailed with a discipline that belied their years, taking both the Musto Young Skipper’s Trophy and the Under-25 Team Trophy. Expect to see these names again in bigger boats and bigger regattas soon.

Friday Night: When Cowes Becomes a Party Town

By Friday evening, with the serious sailing done, Cowes dropped anchor on its racing persona and hoisted the spinnaker of celebration. The narrow streets were shoulder-to-shoulder with sailors in everything from dinner jackets to foul-weather gear. The pubs spilled out into the pavements, brass bands tangled with DJs, and visitors unfamiliar with regatta week looked on as if they’d stumbled into a floating city’s carnival night.

Out on the water, the fleet had been replaced by spectator boats jockeying for a good view of the fireworks. The display — always one of the Solent’s summer highlights — painted the sky in reds, golds, and blues, each boom echoing off the shore. Crews watched from club balconies, RIB tubes, and the decks of yachts now securely tied up after a week of hard miles.

The Island Sailing Club’s prize table had long since been cleared, but its bar remained packed. Stories were told, victories re-lived, and the occasional ‘if only’ was drowned in another pint. Down on the Parade, the carnival atmosphere rolled on into the small hours.

199 Years Down, One Big One to Go

Next year, Cowes Week hits its 200th edition — a milestone that will doubtless draw even bigger fleets, bigger parties, and perhaps bigger fireworks. For now, the 199th has left its mark: a week of changing winds, tight finishes, surprise winners, and the kind of dockside camaraderie you can’t fake.

For those who left with trophies, Cowes 2025 will be remembered as the year the tide went their way. For the rest, it was still a week worth every tack, gybe, and protest flag.

As the last echoes of the fireworks faded and the tide turned once more under the Squadron’s famous start line, the boats lay quiet at their moorings — resting, like their crews, before the sea calls again.